Popular Post

Monday, July 4, 2011

images %IMG_DESC_8% . %IMG_DESC_1%
  • %IMG_DESC_1%



  • gcsngh
    09-19 08:33 PM
    Wish we could have been part of the Team, we were away to Canada to get our visas renewed, can any one share the kind of impact we made in DC in terms of awareness and any positive reponse from the lawmakers.

    Regards:)





    wallpaper %IMG_DESC_1% . %IMG_DESC_2%
  • %IMG_DESC_2%



  • panky72
    06-11 02:10 PM
    Guys,

    Can someone please let me know whether it is possible / advisable to travel while H1 approval is pending?

    She is currently in H4 with a valid stamp in her passport. She filed for her H1 and was selected in lottery. She has a receipt but her approval is pending.

    We were interested in making a short trip to India before Oct 1. But the consulting firm advised against it as according to them if she re-enters in H4 (even before Oct 1) while her H1 approval is pending, her H1 application will be cancelled and she has to restart the process all over again. Something to do with the last status on re-entry.

    My thoughts are: The change of status will be effective Oct 1, 2008, why would it matter if I travel prior to that date?

    A lot of you may have experienced the same dilemma, so please let me know...

    thanks.

    Not advisable until you plan to stamp H-1 visa and come back on it.





    . %IMG_DESC_3%
  • %IMG_DESC_3%



  • sathweb
    07-11 05:55 PM
    Lets do that. Regular letters.
    Print, sign, stamp and mail letters.
    I am all for it.

    Before we ask Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for any further help/support, don't you guys think it will be appropriate to first thank her in some kind of noble way? Any ideas?

    I personally think (at least to begin with) a letter expressing gratitude for and our faith in her efforts would be a nice gesture.:)





    2011 %IMG_DESC_2% . %IMG_DESC_4%
  • %IMG_DESC_4%



  • Totoro
    03-31 04:57 PM
    Here are the examples I presented (lightly edited). Anyone wanting to meet with lawmakers should feel free to use as much of these documents as needed.

    Examples

    Case 1 (Waiting 10 years):

    - i left a very well-paid job after 5 years in multi-nationals before coming to US in 1999.
    - Did dual Masters from a top engineering school + business certification
    - Brought into US $25000 from savings abroad for my studies; Took $25K More as a private loan and have paid it off long back.
    - Never considered myself underpaid in USA. My compensation is amongst the best.
    - Have owned a house since 2002 and raising two US born kids, of course paid taxes for 9 years.


    Now,
    - it is the quality of life AND the quality of PEOPLE that i wanted to work with: one of the reasons why i came to US.
    - Would like to buy a larger house and can certainly afford it today with a credit score over 800.
    - Would like to start my own company, or try to do something different & more strategic for a job function.

    However,
    i have been in the EB3 queue since 2004, with no respite in sight. All is clear except that there are no visa numbers available.

    The issue as you all agreed to - is that this is painfully slow and everyone like me is stuck with one employer and the same job.

    As employers and their lawyers often decide when and in which category a candidate can apply, the employee is left at their mercy. It is understandable if an employer is sponsoring, they must benefit for their investment. Question is how? is 5 years of 'must-serve-us' good enough, or 10, or 15? When can an employee have the mobility?

    Why is it that someone with equal or less qualification / experience can become a US citizen 5 to 10 years before me? Just because they were born in a different country? Because their employer decided a faster EB category? Because they married a US citizen?

    I love America and remain grateful for the opportunities it has provided.
    However, I have trained a lot of US citizens / GC holders who have gone far ahead in career, and I am still doing the same.


    Liberty seems only a statue at times.

    Case 2 Engineer (Waiting 15 years):

    I have been in this country for more than 15 years and still waiting for the GC...I have never been out of status all along...Here is my story...

    I came to US in 1994 fall to attend graduate school and started working from 1997 as transportation engineer. I applied for green card in 1998, but unfortunately the rules were different and the goal post seems to change every time.

    During that time all engineering fields were clubbed together (computers, mechanical, civil etc.) under one generic field for labor certification purposes and therefore the wage requirement was much higher than what a typical transportation engineer would make at that time. Therefore my labor was denied. After talking to my immigration lawyer I was left with two options...Pick up a job that paid the asking labor certification wage (which was skewed and next to impossible) or send additional documentation and references to convince the dept of labor that transportation engineers do not make that much money and that I am being paid more than the prevailing wage for 'transportation engineers'. . After I send additional paperwork to dept of labor based on the suggestion given by my lawyer, what if the dept of labor still denied my labor? I would have been back to square one, and moreover I would have lost a year or two on H1 status. Please note that at that time you had ONLY 6 yrs of H1 visa and it COULD NOT BE EXTENDED EVEN YOUR IMMIGRATION PAPERWORK WAS PENDING. The above rule came later (instance of goal post moving), but I had to make my decision based on what the rules were at that time. So I decided to go back to school in 1999 and attended graduate school to get a computer science degree.

    In late 2000, I joined a company in CA and resumed my paperwork for the green card. My labor was approved and filed for 140 and 140 was also approved in 2002. In 2005, my spouse started to work full-time and started the green card process. We finally applied 485s in 2007, but are still waiting for the approvals. It took CIS almost A YEAR to get our EADs! That too after many calls, letters and contacting the local senator! What an inefficient bureaucracy!

    When the economy was good, I was helpless with CIS rules and its bureaucracy. By the time I received my EAD, the economy is in shambles now...In the process, I had nothing to show for the past 5 yrs!

    Few years back there was a pilot program at TSC where they issued FB green cards under fast track. I personally know someone who applied for their parents, and they got their green cards within 60 days! Their parents never visited US before and during their first ever visitor's visit, they have their green cards? Here I am, came to US in 1994, attended graduate schools, paid tuition, contributed to research, paid my taxes, never was out of status and most importantly, played by the rules, but I am still waiting in this mess!

    Case 3 Partner (Waiting 14 years):

    I've been here for 14 years now; and my wife for 9, legally for every single day. We have two US graduate degrees each. We have paid over $100,000 in federal income tax alone, in each of the last few years. We own our home. Our child was born here. I am a partner at my firm. And we have many wonderful friends here. But we continue to wait indefinitely for our green cards. Citizenship seems an impossible dream at this point.

    Any provision that would bring us closer to citizenship (such as "citizenship fastrack for those who've legally been in the US for more than 10 years" and/or "paid taxes for N years" and/or "earned US graduate degrees" etc) would be very welcome.



    more...


    . %IMG_DESC_5%
  • %IMG_DESC_5%



  • baboo1976
    06-22 10:55 PM
    I filed my new labor with a new employer - Hope this helps!!





    . %IMG_DESC_6%
  • %IMG_DESC_6%



  • gimme_GC2006
    04-08 09:33 PM
    Enough is enough. I am ready to sign this.

    I have 3 real names. All were working for Cognizant. One had 3 years of exp. Cooked up with 4 years of B.Tech and totalled it as 7 years. Came on L1 as PM and applied in EB1. He got GC in less than 1 year. Other 2 had real 7 years exp and got GC's in 8 months. All were working at Client's place and NOT intra company transfers.

    I am not selfish. But I am sure this guy with 3 years exp may one day become a boss for any of us.

    This misuse will hurt the genuine cases. Shall we we go serious and complaint? I am ready to sign and submit all the proof.

    Actually I have heard of another cognizant case. But that was through a friend's friend chain so I am not sure how reliable it was. But seems like cognizant has been following this practice a lot.

    Thats true..if they are getting GC by wrongly claiming to be qualified for EB1 then they should not be spared..

    Oh..wait..then what about the ppl who cook up their resumes to come here on H1B..who cook up their resumes during Labor process (for GC)..it doesnt matter they end up in EB-2 or EB-3.

    I am not saying everybody who got GC cooked up facts..My point is its bigger than just EB-1.

    If you want to complain then it should be followed for everyone. Lets have a running thread for that, lets make a complaint with all such ppl we know..

    No offense meant to you both.:)



    more...


    . %IMG_DESC_7%
  • %IMG_DESC_7%



  • chingchang
    05-04 07:38 AM
    1) Applied Date - OCT 07
    2) Audit Date - Jan 3th, 08
    3) Audit Reply Date - Jan 15th, 08
    4) Category - EB2

    5) Center - Atlanta

    i am working directly to the client, it's very big company and my immigration people told me it's randomly pickup one no need to worry.

    i asked them is there any time frame and they mentioned no set of time frame for audit cases





    2010 %IMG_DESC_3% . %IMG_DESC_8%
  • %IMG_DESC_8%



  • sandsh1
    05-16 10:53 PM
    Hi All,
    Applying for I485 soon. My Moms name is misspelt in my Birth Certificate. Do they cross verify parents name in birth certificate with the names in my passport. If so, please do advice on what I should do?

    Thanks



    more...


    . %IMG_DESC_9%
  • %IMG_DESC_9%



  • akhilmahajan
    08-01 03:25 PM
    I tried to take the appointment and i got dates for me.
    Where are you located at?

    GO IV GO.





    hair %IMG_DESC_4% . %IMG_DESC_10%
  • %IMG_DESC_10%



  • Lasantha
    03-28 10:29 AM
    Yes, it sounds bad. Randy what is your PD?

    EB3
    �MurthyDotCom
    It is expected that the cutoff dates in the employment-based, third preference category (EB3) will remain the same during the month of May 2008. However, this depends on the USCIS's processing of cases, as visa numbers are assigned based on I-485 approvals. Therefore, the number of I-485 applications approved by the USCIS determines, to a large extent, the immigrant visa number usage. (The consulates also use EB3 visa numbers, but far fewer than the USCIS.)
    �MurthyDotCom
    The EB3 cutoff dates moved forward in March and April 2008 in an attempt to avoid a recurrence of the events of the summer of 2007. As our regular readers, in the summer of 2007, the Visa Bulletin reflected current for most categories in an effort not to have an immigrant visa numbers go unused by the end of the fiscal year. They dates are being moved more quickly in the spring, as there is a potential that USCIS will have to reallocate staff from I-485 cases to naturalization cases to address the backlogs with those filings in order to naturalize eligible individuals prior to the November 2008 general election. Moving the dates forward permits case approvals and full utilization of immigrant visa numbers before the end of the fiscal year.



    According to murthy's website, May VB will not move for EB3, bad news for us.



    more...


    . %IMG_DESC_11%
  • %IMG_DESC_11%



  • houston_TX
    07-19 02:32 PM
    Guys,
    Thanks for the quick response, much appreciated. I think I have the answer to my question.
    Essentially:
    1. RD will determine sequence in which AOS are looked at by case officers at USCIS. So July applicants with 2006 PD will geat EAD/AP, etc sooner than October applicants with 2002 PD.
    2. In the event of retrogression (say to 2005), only those applications which have a current PD at the time of visa approval will get the green card. So 2002 PD will get GC before 2006 PD.

    I hope I understood correctly?





    hot %IMG_DESC_5% . %IMG_DESC_12%
  • %IMG_DESC_12%



  • desi3933
    01-12 12:19 PM
    I was under impression that being on H1b u cannot do intra-day trading.. you can do only routine trading (don't know exact term) in which u buy stock and keep it for some time and sell it .. generally 3-4 days..


    while on H1-B status, one can do intra day trading in stocks, options, and/or futures, he/she can NOT claim trader status on federal tax return. Person on EAD can claim trader status and claim some trading related expenses to save tax on it.

    Disclaimer - This is not a legal advice and trading involves risks and is not for everyone. Please seek professional advice before investing your money for trading.


    __________________________
    Not a legal advice.
    US Citizen of Indian Origin



    more...


    house %IMG_DESC_17% . %IMG_DESC_13%
  • %IMG_DESC_13%



  • lutherpraveen
    01-18 03:31 PM
    I would change my contribution to $50 monthly if we have 1000+ members to sign up for the monthly contribution. Meanwhile, I would cancel my contribution if this goal cannot be achieved by all our 8400 members within the next two months. I cannot see any point if most people who suffer from the possibility of waiting for years would not contribute while I, who might be one of the least painful ones, contribute.

    No offense, but, I would continue or increase my contribution, not because someone else is doing so or not doing so, or not if I would I get a tax break or not, but just because of my sheer appreciation of the IV core group's amazing efforts.
    I have not (in the recent past) seen such a group of dedicated, decent and diginified people working together in a selfless manner to achieve something not only for their own good but for the good of hundreds and thousands of their fellow "sometimes not so polite, not so patient" sufferers.
    I see my contribution to IV something similar to a contribution to a church or a temple. You give, not so that you'll benefit out of it, but because at the end of the day it is money well spent for a good cause.
    If you benefit out of the efforts possible by your contribution, that's a nice bonus.
    I don't look at my contribution as "I pay $20 I should get $100 in return".
    For me, it is not an investment, but a good expenditure for worthy cause.





    tattoo %IMG_DESC_6% . %IMG_DESC_14%
  • %IMG_DESC_14%



  • abhijitp
    03-10 06:33 PM
    Advocacy is a highly effective way of making change happen in the system. Go IV!



    more...


    pictures %IMG_DESC_7% . %IMG_DESC_15%
  • %IMG_DESC_15%



  • nviren
    06-16 07:56 PM
    From my reading, it looks like Dems can get lot of mileage from CIR for the election, whether it passes or not .

    If the bill passes, good for Dems because now the populace knows that Dems worked towards it and many republicans opposed it.

    If the bill does not pass, Dems can say Republicans killed the humane bill and they can not deliver anything (in last 4 years, huge surplus has become huge deficit; reengineering of Social Security failed; war was started by misleading people and good allies were dealienated and there is no end in sight; Katrina was bungled; President could not get his candidate to become judge, NSA wiretapping issue and now republicans can't even work out immigration policy and think gay marriage and flag burning are the most important issues of our time). Hispanics for the decades will go with Dems.

    So whichever way bill goes, Dems benefits. What they do not benefit from is by letting this bill go into oblivion. Hence unless some major issue comes up to distract the attention of nation (like Iran, terrorist attacks), Dems will try to keep immigration in limelight. (But it may die from attention overkill, desensitization)

    My take.

    probably implies that they are looking for a way to quietly kill the bill using procedures so that no one is red faced, come election time...





    dresses %IMG_DESC_12% . %IMG_DESC_16%
  • %IMG_DESC_16%



  • spicy_guy
    07-13 01:58 PM
    let me take a guess - at the minimum - 2 years for your PD and 4-5 years for my PD.

    Well, I would say a year more of waiting time is kind of not okay. Already waited for so many years.

    Though not offending, its pathetic to see recent EB 2 filers getting greend quickly while EB 3I, even oldest filers, are sucked in mud. No rationale et all...

    God help EB3I



    more...


    makeup %IMG_DESC_9% . %IMG_DESC_17%
  • %IMG_DESC_17%



  • paskal
    07-11 07:15 PM
    stop this stupidity please

    far as i know we did not write the letter.
    all we did was send flowers to let people know we were screwed over.
    if you don't even want to do that...
    hey it's ok to roll over and play dead. but you can do that without bothering to come here, can't you?
    iv has not raised any security related issues as a policy. we have not denigrated uscis for working efficiently either. all we asked was to honor the july bulletin.
    so what stupidity should be stop dear kramer?





    girlfriend %IMG_DESC_14% . %IMG_DESC_18%
  • %IMG_DESC_18%



  • xyzgc
    01-26 01:03 PM
    If you think renting is not 'quality of life' and you see it is affordable and prepared to lose money go ahead and buy. On the other hand, if you don't mind renting and don't feel like losing your hard earned money wait for the downturn to be over.
    The rate of fall is so much that it is better to lose on the rent than buy and lose over the next years depreciation.

    My interest in the house would be long term investment rather than quality of life. Another point is that most people are unwilling to spend lot of money on rents to get the same QOL. There is emotional element there called (eventual) 'ownership' but that's only emotional. That I don't care about too much.

    If the trend indicates prices are falling this year, I guess people will wait for a year more but at some point people will go ahead, depending on the overall economy start buying because no one can really predict the bottom. At that point, it may even start going up allowing the economy to slowly get back on its feet.





    hairstyles %IMG_DESC_11% . %IMG_DESC_19%
  • %IMG_DESC_19%



  • sdeshpan
    09-29 09:47 AM
    ...and what's the point of this discussion here? The point is not lost on anyone here that such bill(s) are needed and passed. So I am not quite sure what you hope to achieve by this poll - will this lead to any action on your part to write up such a bill or talk to your congressmen/women about the points discussed here? :confused:

    I think a lot of people here just like to discuss the hell out of this topic just make themselves feel better! :rolleyes:





    vbkris77
    03-24 04:55 PM
    I never said all this crap. you could be what you are.. There are probably more qualified people who didn't get a chance to get the same f***ng benefits you enjoy.. IV is trying to help them.. It is impossible to show that because of your 100$ bill, you GC is printed 20 sec faster.. If you don't believe in what is going on in IV, take a hike..



    Yeah Right. Now you are going to tell me, my higher education is due to IV, me coming to US is due to IV, me getting bachelors, masters, phd is due to IV, me getting H1 B visa approval and stamping, My getting EB 2 filed approved is caz of IV. , labor approval, 2 yr eads, medical appointments are all due to IV. Get real.

    When I was in trouble, I threw some money at Ms Sheela (not Sheela from sheela ki jawani) and voila , I had solution for my problems. IF we are legal here, we need to be afraid of anything, else glad to go back home.

    Dude, understand that I am a friend not an enemy to IV advocacy. I just said, for me to contribute, I should feel that IV made an impact or will make an impact for my cause. Which I dont feel right now.

    Make me believe and I am in. Until then keep trying.

    If you still want to bark , well you can pick some tree as I just ignored this debate.





    sundarvarad
    10-31 12:00 PM
    Hello,
    I have sent my Passport for renewal to CGI Houston, TX. I have shipped it via FEDEX on Oct 19 and it reached CGI Houston on Oct 21. It was signed by some one by name Kohli.

    In the Site its mentioned, the renewal will take 7 business days. Based on this thread, I see that it might take around 3 weeks time

    Can anyone tell me, Whether CGI houston communicates to us once the passport is dispatched? Will they give FEDEX / USPS tracking number to track? I want to make sure that some one will be at home to collect it.

    Thanks in advance